Fighting Misinformation: Digital Media Literacy

Course Description:
The internet gives us tremendous power, but also great responsibility. Every time you hit share, forward, or even like, you influence how information spreads. This course teaches you to recognize, analyze, and counter misinformation by understanding how it is created, why it spreads, and how it impacts democracy and society. With practical tools and real examples, you’ll gain the literacy skills necessary to navigate today’s complex digital media environment.

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Course Outline

01: The Misinformation Threat
Democracy depends on a well-informed electorate. Examine the concepts of misinformation and disinformation, and how falsehoods, slander, and prejudice can weaken democratic institutions.
23 min

02: The Evolution of Media and Misinformation
From traditional journalism to the age of algorithms, trace the history of communication technologies and learn how to separate credible news from misleading or false content.
27 min

03: Misinformation and the Brain
Understand how misinformation exploits cognitive biases such as selective recall, confirmation bias, and the Barnum effect. Discover techniques like “Label to Disable” and “Care before You Share.”
24 min

04: Seeing Through Visual Misinformation
Explore how images can be reframed, manipulated, or mislabeled to trigger emotional responses. Learn strategies to critically assess visual content in the digital age.
22 min

05: Countering Fakes and Stereotypes in Media
Analyze how fake accounts, reviews, and stereotypes amplify misinformation. Consider the challenges posed by human bias and the role of stereotypes in shaping perception.
28 min

06: Journalistic Verification Skills
Learn the methods journalists use to verify information. Gain insight into tools, websites, and plug-ins that can help you evaluate credibility and fact-check stories.
27 min

07: Assessing Science and Health News
Scientific knowledge evolves, making it a prime target for misinformation. Develop techniques to assess the reliability of science and health reporting to make better-informed decisions.
26 min

08: Technology, Misinformation, and the Future
Examine how AI and augmented reality spread misinformation on a global scale. Explore strategies like media literacy, “Label to Disable,” and “Care before You Share” to combat these threats.
28 min